Upside Down Christmas Tree

There is an interesting twist this year with the traditional Christmas Tree that is definetly not the norm, it’s the Upside Down Christmas Tree and they are catching on like wildfire!  Welcome to UpsideDown-ChristmasTree.com – your source for an upside down tree for Christmas.

The tradition actually started some time back in history, around the 7th century, when some Christians in Eastern Europe translated a tree being upside down as representing the trinity. By displaying it that way they felt its meaning would be clear to visitors and passersby. It was popular in Europe to hang fir trees from the ceiling with, the stump up and the top down, around a thousand years ago.

Over the years, the upside down Christmas tree has come to mean different things to different people, with christmas decorations also becoming an addition to the tradition.

As with just about anything one is apt to do, some people find the upside down trees offensive and representative of something other than Christianity.  Possibly something sacrilegious, thus Christmas trees were placed with the tip pointing towards heaven.

In modern times, people have found that an upside down Christmas tree makes a great conversation piece and helps to show their individuality.

Modern upside down artificial trees only need to be placed in their stand, and not hung from the ceiling, as was done in early times with live trees. They come in the same heights as right side up trees with four to eight feet being considered standard. Taller models are available, with ten feet being the tallest that is usually kept in stock.

If one chooses to hang a live tree upside down they may have to be more creative. Keeping it watered could be a problem, but creative people are usually able to overcome such obstacles.

Looking at it from a practical point, it does seem it would be easier to decorate as you can walk up under it umbrella style and place more ornaments without the use of a ladder.  Upside down Christmas trees were introduced to retailers for in-store displays, allowing more ornaments to be displayed at eye level to the buying public.  They also left more floor space around the bottom to hold extra stock of decorations or presents.  Many models come with the lights already installed eliminating the problem of placing them.

With so many styles of artificial trees on the market, the same varieties have become available as upside down
trees. Many of the same ornaments and decorations are also available. There may be some confusion about the topper or star, which of course could go on the top, or the bottom.

The assortment of colors for artificial upside down trees range from white and the conventional green, to bright orange and red, with many other colors also available.

Some companies offer a shiny metal aluminum upside down tree that can be spot lighted with bright lights that are projected from a revolving color wheel. One of the more unusual trees on the market consists of a trunk and branches with no needles. This model is also offered in various colors and can be displayed upside down..

The actual Christmas tree tradition possibly dates back to the early sixteen hundreds or so when bringing a tree into the home represented faith in the coming spring. This possibly could have evolved into today’s practice of decorating a tree for Christmas.

Others place the honor directly on Martin Luther who was supposedly inspired by snow on evergreen tree limbs and brought one into the house for his family to enjoy.

There are numerous stories as to how it caught on in America, but most agree it traveled to the United States from Europe by immigrants.   Whether placed upside down, or right side up, Christmas trees are now enjoyed annually by millions.   

Enjoy your decorating, and don’t forget your Christmas tree lights, garland, and decorations! Have a wonderful 2009 Holiday Season, and a very prosperous New Year.